In 2011, NASA scientists compiled a list of the most realistic sci-fi films. First up is a 1997 film, Gattaca, starring Ethan Hawke and Jude Law.
During a conference (2011) in California at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA scientists compiled a list of the best and worst science fiction films in terms of credibility. A sci-fi film made it to first place, describing a future in which it is not performance that counts, but genetic material.
Here you can see a trailer for Gattaca:
Gattaca – Trailer (English)
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This is the most realistic film according to NASA
Which movie? Gattaca, directed by Andrew Niccol, is a dystopian science fiction film that depicts a society in which people are divided into different classes through genetic manipulation.
Fun fact: The film’s title is derived from the four nucleobases of DNA: guanine, adenine, thymine and cytosine (G, A, T and C).
What is the movie about? The film is about a future society in which parents can determine the future of their children before they are born – all characteristics such as height and hair color can be adjusted and hereditary diseases can be eliminated. A scenario that doesn’t bode well.
A society divided into two classes
Society is divided into two classes: the valid, who are genetically optimized, and the invalid, who were conceived naturally and have genetic defects. The disabled are discriminated against and oppressed.
Vincent Freeman, played by Ethan Hawke, is one of the invalids and dreams of flying into space. He feels driven by the injustice of the system that judges people based on their genetic perfection.
To achieve his dream, he assumes the identity of a genetically perfect man named Jerome Morrow, who is confined to a wheelchair after an accident. Under the false identity of Jerome, Vincent works hard to qualify for a space mission.
As Vincent tries to hide his true identity and pursue his dreams, he becomes embroiled in a murder case that threatens his cover. He has to fight against genetic discrimination and at the same time find his place in a society.
The characters in Gattaca struggle with societal norms and their personal beliefs. They strive to find their own place in the world and understand how their genes influence their identity. The film touches on topics such as genetic engineering, discrimination, the meaning of fate and self-determination.
Today, scientists can use tools such as the CRISPR-Cas9 gene scissors to specifically intervene in the genetic material, which is also used for gene therapies for certain diseases. CRISPR-Cas allows researchers to cut, remove, insert or modify DNA at specific locations.
It remains unclear what further possibilities will arise in the future. Given the rapid advances in genetic research, the film Gattaca may be even more relevant today than it was in its day.
Which films are still waiting on the list? NASA’s top-rated films include the following:
NASA scientists have also compiled a list of the most unrealistic sci-fi films, including a well-known natural disaster film from 2009: This sci-fi film is the most unrealistic, according to NASA